klostermann



March 1932- c. w. KLOSTERMANN VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1 929 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

March'S, 1932. c. w. KLOSTERMANN VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

March 8, 1932. c. w. KLOSTERMANN 1,848,728

VENDING MACHINE IN VENTOR.

Patented Mar. 8, 1932 com. W. KLOSTERMANiI; F v'cnio'mio, ,i'L'tI' vois, ASSiG-NOR To ascm ucax. m niac conro'n'a'iifon, 0F oHwAGo, IIJLINoIS, a CORPORATION OF DELAWARE VENDING MACHINE This inventionrelates torvending machines and particularlyto machineszof the c0inactu fated type; wherein a coin: or coinsare em ployed for connectihg the operating: means, to the discharge mechanism for ej ec-ting a rticles of merchandise from themachine'.

One object ofthe present -invention is to provide a! novel construction and. arrange-- ment wherein a pluralityof coinsof different denomination o1 valueare employed ioi connecting. the operating means andflthe, dis-- ch'argemechanism. f; 1" Q,

Another object of the invention is 'to pro-- vide a novel? coin controllede. mechanism= for:

up preventing ciogging of the machine inthe event that'coins are deposited intheimachi-ne" before the' starting and completing of EH a1? ticle discharging operation.-

Another object of the inventiongis toj'pro 2a" vide means for preventinginorethan a'pre- I determined number of'coins of a5 particular denomination ".flOHl entering! the connecting m ansbetween operations of the discharge:

mechanism.

sequent coins seine denomination from being' conducted to the connecting means until after: the discharge mechanism has been actu" means from-it's normally inoperative posi tioninto" operative position to deflect coins" subsequently deposited in the machine away. from the connecting means until afterthe discharge-mechanism has been' actuat'ed; and; also to provide -means actuated byvthe dis-"' charge mechanism for restoring the defl' ct ing mean's to its normal position.

Another obj eotof the invention is to ro videiresiliently yielding means foi rele'asahly securing the coin actuated deflecting means" inoperativeand:inoperative"positioiisi Another objectof the invention is} to 'pio vide discharge mechanism having coin re ceiving means associated therewith adapted] to be actuatedby lurality of coins of din appende'dclaims'; a 1 One emhodimentofthe pi esentvinventionis shown .io illustrative purposes in the-accOm-L panyingdra wingswliichcr -Anotherohject of the: invention is -t .-pr-:=- k vlde means adapted t'o be actuatedby v c01 1-' deposited int-he machine fonpreventm'g sub i object of theinvention isito pto ferent denomination or value-and means for.

preventing more'than a pre determine'd 1mm:

ber of coins ci -each denomination from he in'g deposited inthereceivingmeans-between I A still further object of the present inven 36" v I 3101'}; }S to improve machines of the chafact'er' disclosed-1nsundry details herelnaftei (16-1 scribed. and particularly pointed out inptli'e Fig.2 is-a fragmentary elevatioiialview. 0f.i V

a portionof the mechanismillustiated in 1' and taken substantially'as indicated hy t'he' line'2 2thereof; I 1 Fig: g-is-ranenlarged-elevational view'ofthe 1 coin controlled connectingmeans and the compacthated coin deflecting-i means asse ciatedtherewithg' Fig: 4 is an enlarged:- elevationalview of the deflecting means and: associated parts taken substantially as indicated bys the line 4-=4L'ofFig.;3;-= Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryelevationah.vievi having partsthereof broken away: to ill-us trat'e'more clearly the jCOnStTllCtlOIl Ofi the dc fiecting' means; the view {being taken? sub "stantially as; ind-ioated by the line of;

Fig. 4;. a

Fig.6 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing some ofthe partsin slightly changed posii tions; Fig, .Tis -a sectional. elevationv View taken of Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is an'end'vievvlof the'yielding'ffi bv' substantially"- indicated by the line;

able element employed forse'cli ijngithe' de l fleeting .niean's perative and inoperative vice shown in Fig. 8 {and Fig. lfisa vertical sectional View through i a vending machine illustrating the applica Y 7 .tion of-the present inventiontheretogz 70 Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the coin deflecting devices illustrating the relative position of tripping or actuating means associated therewith;

l he illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings comprises a housing 10 having preferably a plurality of magazines 11 formed'therein, one of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the respective magazines being adapted to contain a plurality of articles of merchandise, such for example, as packages of cigarettes indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 6 of the drawings by the numeral 12.

The housing 10 in the present instance, is provided on its front vertical side with vertically disposed longitudinally extending sight openings 13 having transparent panels 14 such as glass or other suitable material mounted therein to enable the purchaser to observe the characterzof the articles of merchandise contained in the magazines.

The front portion of the machine, in the present instance, adjacent the lower end thereof, is provided with an aperture 15 through which access may be had to a pocket 16 into which the articles of merchandise are delivered when ejected from the magazines, and the housing is also provided, adjacentone end of the aperture 15, with a coin pocket provided with discharge plates rotatably V mounted on the shaft and spaced longitudinally thereof adjacent the lower ends of the a respective magazines only one of said plates being shown in the present instance and indicated by the numeral 19. Formed on the periphery of the plates 19 are radially disposed annularly spaced fingers 20 adapted to traverse the lower portion of the magazine in a manner to engage the lowermost article therein and move the article transversely with respect to the magazine as shown in Fig. 6 and deposit it into the chute 21 by which it is conducted to the pocket 16 where it may be removed through the aperture 15 by the purchaser.

For rotating the plates 19 and fingers 2O for discharging articles from the magazine,

the shaft 18, adjacent one of its end portions, has secured thereto by any suitable means, a manually operated hand lever 22 extending outwardly through a slot formed in the front portion of the housing and provided on its outer or free end with a knob 23 by which the purchaser may rotate the shaft 18 for operating the machine. I

As previously stated, the present invention is of the coin actuated type, and in the present instance, the article discharging fingers 20 are adapted to be actuated by a plurality of coins of different denominations, for example, a dime and anickel deposited in the article discharging mechanism.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7, it will be noted that one face of the plate 19 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed annularly spaced channels'or coin receptacles 24 adapted to receive coins from coin conducting chutes 25 and 26, the chute 25, in the present instance, being adapted to receive nickels and conduct them to the channels of the discharge mechanism and the chute 26 being adapted to receive dimes for conducting them to the discharge mechanism. The plate 19 is also provided with annularly formed grooves 27 communicating, adjacent their end portions, with the channels 24.

Secured to the'shaft 18, adjacent the channeled and grooved face of the plate 19 in a mannerto close the open sides of the channels 24 when in operative position is an actuating member 28 of segmental form, and having a portion 29 formed thereon adapted to extend into the plane of the channels in a manner to support the lowermost coin such for example as a dime deposited in the channel as indicated at A in Figs. 1, 6 and 7 of the drawings. The member 28 is also pr0- wise alignment with respect to each other as indicated at AB in Figs. 1,6 and 7 the coins are held against displacement by the walls of the channel and the adjacent face of the actuating member 28, with the uppermost coin indicated at B in position to be engaged by the forward or adjacent end of the rib 30, andbyforcing the outer or free end of the lever 22 downwardly by means of the knob 23, the shaft 18 and actuating member 28 secured thereto will be rotated and the forward end of the rib 30 will be brought into engagement with the adjacent edge of the coin B in a manner to cause the coin to impinge the opposite wall of the channel 24 in which it is mounted and rotate the plate 19 and fingers 20 carried thereby into engagement with the lowermost article in the magazine 11 for discharging the article therefrom and into the chute 21 and pocket 16. Secured to a rearwardly extending portion 31 of the lever 22 is one end of a spring 32, the op posite end of which is secured to a lug 33 mounted on the base or bottom portion 34 of the machine, for returning the operating lemal or. initial positions; a After an article discharging,operation,.the

vers2'2 and actuatingmember "28to. their norplate 19 will vbe retained in its changed po-- 'sition by suitable detentmeans 84a (Fig; 1) cooperating with arcam: plate 346 (Fig.7) the'said means being ,fully' described in my copending application, filed .December 2,

1929, Serial No. 411,035, and as the operating 1 lever 22 and actuatingmember 28 are returnedrto their normal or initialipositionsby. theaction ofthe spring32, it will be noted that the portion 29 will be moved. fromrbeneaththe channel 24 in whichthe coins were deposited to enable the'last' operation of the machine, thereby clearing the lowerend of the channel. and permitting the coins to drop by gravity therefrom into: a suitable coin box positioned in the bottom of the machine anlsm shown in the present embodiment, and suitably posltloned inslde-the housing and communicating with therespective slots are runways35 and 36-open at their lower edge portion as indicated at 37 in Fig; 1 adjacent the upper ends of the cinchutes25 and 26- for depositing coins inserted in 'the'slots into i v coins or tokens on the slide 40 which they 7 are conducted to thechute 41 andthenceto the respective clintes25'and 26 .by which the coins are conducted vto the discharge mechanisin, the runway 35, in-thepresent' instance,

being adaptedto rece ve nickels and com' municat-ing with the chute 25, and the run way 36 being adapted to receive dimes and communicatingwiththe chute '26. i It will be noted by reference to Fig, 2- that the run ways are inclined transversely at an angle to the perpendlcularand provided in their lower. or \outer side portlons fWlllll; 3 11 6 1011 gated opening38 throughwhich coins or tokens of lesser diameter than those intended for use in the particular runwayare ejected onto an inclined plate 39 from which/the coins or, tokens are deposited into a trans-- versely extending slide 40, the lower endpor tion of which is adapted to communicate with a coin or token discharge chute 41by which the rejected coins or tokens areconducted to: the coin pocket 17 from which they may be repossessed by the customer.

For detecting. or withdrawing coins or tokens of improper material from themachine, the respective chutes and 26 are provided with magnets 42 which will hold the 7 coins or tokens of such objectionable material sufliciently long to cause the coins or tokens to swmgrearwardly through opening's' 43 formed in the rear edge ofthe respective chutes 25 and 26 and deposit the the collar 58.

the pocket 17* from which they may be: re: covered by the customer" 1 H r. a As abovedescribedythe'present inventi'on-x- U contemplates the use of coins ofdifi'erentdenominations for actuating? the discharge mechanism, and for preventingfthe operation?! suitable means adapted to be actuated by the first coins oftherespe'otive denominations deposited in-themachine are employed fori'dee fleeting-coins of like denomination subse-v "oli'the machine by coins oflike' denomination, J:

quentl y deposited away -fromthe discharge rality of: passages 45 and 46 extending ver-' tioally therethroughand adapted to .com-

mechanism, and in the present instance, this means comprises a-frame 44 hav1nga plumunicate'oat their upperend portions with spectively, for conducting. cOinsdepOsited in the respective chutes to thelower end of the lower ends of thechutes 25' and 26, re-

the fraine'and into the coin receptacles or channels 24 for actuating the discharge mechanism in the mannerabove described:

Pivotallyinountedin the frame 44- and the ears or-hangers 47 and 48 formed integral therewith are a plurality of aligned rock I cent end portions terminating within the pas- Rigidly secured to the respective inner end shafts 49 and 50 having their inner or adjasages 45 and 46,- re'spectively, of the frame 44.

portions of'the shafts 49and 5O aregates or,

deflectors 51 and 52,11aving coin actuated,

means such as fingers 53 and associated 'with the respective gates or deflectors 51 and Y 52, the ringer 53' being adapted normally to j10e-.

extend intothe passage 45 in a manner to be engaged by ianic'kel' as indicated by the charthe rear ofthe'passagefas indicated also in Fig.3. i

a detent or tooth57 formed on a collar 58- loosely mounted on the shaft 49, andi' havingr ,acter D in{-Fig.; 8 0i the drawings while itsassociated deflector 51 occupies aposltlon to ice:

For retalninglthe deflector 51 and finger 53 in theirrespective normal positions as illustrated in Fig: 30f"the-drawings, the ear'or'. hanger 47 is provided'with boss-55'havinga notch 56 formed therein adapted to'receive I a slot' 59'formed, therein adapted to receive the ends of a pin 60 mounted in the shaft49 ina manner to cause the collar to rotate or 7 rock with the shaft 49 and at the saine time permit 'longitudinal movement of the collar' alon the shaft to permit thewithdrawal-of i the detent or tooth 57 from thelnotch 56 and' move ityintogengagement' with a-notch til-also forined on the boss .55.

For yieldingly holding the 'detent ror tooth 57int11e respective notches, arelativelv'light 'sprin g 62 is positioned around the shaft 49 between the c'ollar'58 andahead or nut 63 ad- I justably secured to the outer 'endiof the shatt, 5

49in a mannerto exert-a v suitable tension on t l ie served We tra ng 1 scription that when a coin deposited in the chute 25 engages the trip or finger 53, the shaft 49 will be rotated in its bearings and the collar and tooth 56 moved outwardly against the action of the spring 62, and the finger 58 will be moved to the position shown in F ig. 1 while the gate or deflector51 will be moved into the passage as shown in Fig. l, and into a position to be engaged by coins subsequently deposited in the chute 25 as indicated at E in Fig. 1, thereby causing such subsequent coins to be defiected away from the coin receptacle or discharge mechanism and into an inclined open chute or runway 64 (Fig. 1) by which the coins subsequently deposited are conducted to the chute or runway 41 and thence to the coin pocket 17 where they may be recovered by the customer.

Similar mechanism governs the course of the coins from the chute 26 through the passage 46, the finger 54 being normally positioned in the passage in a manner to be engaged by a coin as, for example, a dime deposited therein from thechute 26 in which case the dime would engage the finger 54 positioned normally in the passage 46 and move the finger and gate 52 to theposition shown in Fig. 5 for deflecting dimes subsequently deposited in the machine away from the coin receptacle and discharge mechanisi'n in the manner described with reference to coins deposited in the passage 45. I

The finger 54 and gate or deflector 52 are normally retained in their respective operative and inoperative positions in a manner similar to that described with reference to the finger 53 and deflector 51, the ear or hanger 48 being provided with a boss 65 having notches 66 and 67 formed therein adapted, in the various positions of the deflector 52, to receive a detent or tooth 68 formed on acollar 69 loosely mounted on the shaft 50, and provided with a slot 70 adapted to receive a pin 71 mounted in the shaft and cooperable with the collar in a manner to cause the collar to rotate with the shaft and at the same time permitlongitudinal movement of the collar relative thereto. The collar 69 and detent or tooth 68 is held yieldingly toward the boss (35 by means of a spring 72 operating between the collar and a head 73 adjustably secured to the shaft 5 The passages 45 and 46 are connected, adjacent their lower ends as indicated at 74, (Fig. 4) by a common passage for conducting the coins of respective denominations to the channels or coin receptacles 24 of the discharge mechanism. 7

For returning the deflectors 51 and 52 and their actuating fingers 53 and 54, respectively, to their normal positions after the proper coins have been deposited in the coin receptacle of the discharge mechanism, each of the shafts 49 and 50 are provided with arms 75 and76 adapted to be engaged by the finrens gers 20 of the article discharge mechanism when the plate 19 and fingers 20 are rotated in a manner to discharge one of the packages or articles 12 from the magazine.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that when the fingers 53 and 54, and deflectors 51 and 52 are in their normal position, a nickel conducted to the frame 44 by the chute 25 will engage the finger 58 and in passing to the coin receptacle of the discharge mechanism will rotate the shaft 49 and move the deflector 51 into the passage 45 in a manner to be engaged by coins subsequently deposited in the chute 25 and return them to the purchaser, while the first dime deposited in the passage 46 by the chute 26 will engage the finger 54 and in its passage to the receptacle 24 will rotate the shaft 50 and move the deflector 52 into the passage 46 in a manner to be engaged by dimes subsequently deposited in the chute 26 and return them to the customer. The coins thus deposited in the channel or coin receptacles 24 of the dis charge mechanism provide a driving connection between the actuating member 28 and plate 19 for rotating the plate in a manner to discharge an article of merchandise from the magazine 11, and in rotating the plate, one set of the fingers mounted thereon will engage the arms 7 5 and 76 in a manner to rotate the shafts 49 and 50 and restore the fingers 53 and 54 together with their associated gates or deflectors to normal or initial position.

Thus, it will be observed that but one coin of each denomination is permitted to enter a coin receptacle or channel 24 between operations of the coin discharge mechanism, thereby preventing the operation of the machine by two nickels, in which case the merchant would sustain a loss, orby two dimes,in which case the purchaser would be out the difference between the amount deposited and the price of the article purchased.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel coin actuated vending machine adapted to be operated throughthe medium of a plurality of coins of different denominations, and wherein any loss either to the purchaser or merchant is eliminated. It will be understood that machines of the character described may be designed in a manner to be operated by more than two coins, in which case as additional coin passages and similar coin actuated deflecting means may be added as desired.

(lbviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as the same may be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and subcombinations.

Having thus described my claim:

invention, I

1. In a vending machine, the Combination with manually operated coin controlled ejecting means for discharging'articles therefrom including a coin receptacle and a chute for conducting coins to said receptacle, 'ofdefleeting means operatively related to said chute and having means associated therewith adapted to be engaged by the first coin do posited in said chute for actuating said de fleeting means ina manner to cause coins sub sequently deposlted in said chute to be-deflected away from said receptacle, and means adapted to be'engaged by said ejecting means for restoring said deflecting means to normalposition. i

2. In a vending machine, the combination with manually operated coin controlled ejecting means for discharging articles therefrom including a coinreceptac le and a chutefor conductingcoins to said receptacle,'of a dc flector pivotally mounted adjacent said chute, means operatively related to said deflector and adapted to beengaged by a coin deposited in said chute in a manner to move said deflector into the chute for deflecting coins subsequently deposited therein away from said receptacle, and means operatively related to said deflector and adapted to be engaged by said ejecting means for restoring the deflector to its initial position.

3. In a vending machine, the combination with manually operated coin controlled ejecting means for discharging articles therefrom including a coin receptacle and a chute for conducting coins to said receptacle, of a deflector pivotally mounted adjacent said chute,

means operatively related to said deflector and adapted to be engaged by'a coin deposited 1n sald chute 1n amanner to move sa1d deflector into the chute for deflecting coins subsequently deposited therein away from said receptacle, meansoperativelyrelated to said deflector and adapted to be engaged bysaid ejecting means for restoring the deflector to its initial position, and yielding means for releasably securing said deflecting means in operative and inoperative positions.

4;. In a vending machine, the combination with coin controlled ejecting means for discharging articles therefrom including afcoin receptacle adapted to receive a plurality of coins, means for actuating said ejecting I means and a plurality of chutes for conductmg 001118 of dlfl'erent denominations to said receptacle, of pivotally mounted means positioned in each ofsaid chutes and adapted to be actuated by the flrst coins-deposited therein in a manner to deflect coins subsequently deposited in the respective chutes away from saidreceptacle until after said ejecting means has been actuated, means for restoring said deflecting means to inoperative position, and yielding spring actuatedmeans for releasablysecuring said deflecting means in operative and inoperative positions.

5. In a vending machine, the combination with coin controlled ejecting means for discharging articles therefrom including a coin receptacleadapted to receive aplurality of coins, means for actuating said ejecting -means and a plurality of chutes for conducting coins of different denominations to said receptacle, of'pivotallymounted coin actuated -''means positioned in each of said chutes for deflecting a second coin deposited in the re: spective chutes away from said receptacle un-. til after saidejecting means has been actuated, and means operatively related to said ejecting means for restoring said deflectlng means to inoperative position.

" 6. In a vending machine, the comb1nat1on "ejecting means adapted to be actuated by a plurality of coins of different denominations and having a coin receptacle associated therewith, of a plurality of chutes for conducting coins to said receptacle, deflecting means for preventing more than one coin of like denomination from entering said receptacle between operations of said ejecting means, means for restoring said deflecting means to inoperative position, and means for releasably securing said deflecting means in operative and inoperative positions.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this27th day of November, A. D.

CURT W. KLOSTERMANN.

'withma'nually operated coin controlled ejecting means for discharging articles therefrom 5 

